GenSmarts: The Add-On That Finds the Holes in Your Research
GenSmarts doesn’t build family trees — it reads the one you already have and tells you, person by person, exactly what to search for next.
Category: Sites and Software
Findmypast: The Specialist’s Choice for British and Irish Research
Findmypast is the most comprehensive genealogy platform for British and Irish records, with the world’s largest online archive of historical newspapers, exclusive national archive partnerships, and deep Irish record coverage that no other platform matches. For Dillman researchers with lines through Britain, Ireland, or British departure ports, it is an essential tool.
Fold3: Where Military Records Live
Fold3 is the most comprehensive military records database available to genealogists, with over 350 million records covering American service from the Revolutionary War through modern conflicts. For Dillman researchers with ancestors in American military history, it is not optional equipment.
The Master Genealogist: A Legacy Worth Understanding
The Master Genealogist was discontinued in 2014, yet many genealogists still use it today. Its evidence-based citation system, surety ratings, and roles/witnesses framework set a standard that no current commercial program has fully replicated — and its legacy directly shaped the Evidence Explained standards the DFA now uses.
MacFamilyTree 11: The Best Genealogy Software You’ve Never Heard Of (If You’re on Windows)
MacFamilyTree 11 is the most visually sophisticated genealogy desktop application available — and runs exclusively on Mac. With Apple’s App of the Year recognition, 27 years of development, and features like 3D globe visualization and heat-map statistics, it is the best-kept secret in genealogy software for Mac users.
Gramps: The Free, Open-Source Desktop Genealogy Software Worth Taking Seriously
Gramps is free, open-source genealogy software with a 25-year track record that rivals paid desktop alternatives in analytical depth and data control. For researchers who value data ownership and serious source citation, it is worth the learning curve.
Personal Ancestral File: The Grandfather of Genealogy Software
Personal Ancestral File (PAF) was the first widely distributed genealogy software program in history — a free application developed by The Church of Jesus Christ…
MyHeritage Family Tree Builder: A Free Desktop Tool
MyHeritage Family Tree Builder is a free desktop genealogy application that has been available since 2004 — one of the longest-running continuously developed genealogy programs…
Family Tree Maker: A Complete History and Assessment
Few products have shaped the landscape of consumer genealogy as profoundly as Family Tree Maker. For nearly four decades it has been the best-known desktop genealogy…
GEDmatch: Cross-Platform DNA Matching for Genealogists
GEDmatch occupies a unique and somewhat complicated position in the genetic genealogy landscape. It is the only major platform where DNA results from multiple testing companies…